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Airbus surges past Boeing for 2010 order win

Airbus’ 2010 net order total was about 100 short of Boeing’s through November, but the European plane maker surged ahead in December for its third straight order win, Airbus announced Monday.

Airbus ended the year with net orders for 574 commercial aircraft, compared with 530 for Boeing. Airbus’ total was more than double its 2009 haul of 271 net orders.

Airbus delivered a record 510 commercial jets to 94 customers last year. The company said it expects to again book orders for more jets than it delivers in 2011.

“2010 was a good year, in fact better than expected twelve months ago,” Airbus President and Chief Executive Officer Tom Enders said in a news release. “This is the result of strong airline demand for new and more eco-efficient aircraft.”

While India’s IndiGo recently signed a memorandum of understanding to buy 150 A320neos, Virgin America placed the first firm order, making it the aircraft’s launch customer, Airbus said. Virgin’s order formalizes an initial commitment announced in July and adds the A320neo.

Virgin America has not yet announced its engine choice between the CFM International LEAP-X and Pratt & Whitney PurePower PW1100G.

“Virgin airlines are known around the world for innovation – for harnessing the best in design, technology and entertainment to reinvent the travel experience,” Virgin Group Founder Sir Richard Branson said in a news release. “We’re just as committed to investing in the next generation solutions that will make air travel more sustainable. Climate change cannot be ignored by business, and I believe that we must rise to the challenge of combating it and find new and better ways of operating. The A320neo will help us get there, by lowering costs and reducing our impact on the environment.”

Airbus’ 2010 net order haul consists of 416 A320 Family aircraft, 62 A330s, one A340, 63 A350 XWBs and 32 A380s. Wide-body aircraft, which are more expensive than single-aisle jets, made up 27.5 percent of Airbus’ total, compared with just 8.3 percent of Boeing’s.

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